Global air travel demands up by 3.8% in January: IATA
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Latin America with 11.4% YoY and Africa with 11.7% YoY lead the regional surge.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2026 global passenger demand. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.8% compared to January 2025. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 3.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.0% (+0.2 ppt compared to January 2025), a record high for January.
International demand rose 5.9% compared to January 2025. Capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to January 2025).
“The timing of the Lunar New Year partly explains the slightly slower 3.8% expansion in January, but the fundamentals are in place for demand to continue strong growth in 2026,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
All regions saw expansion, though the pace of growth decelerated in some areas, notably Asia Pacific, due to the timing shift of the Lunar New Year holiday into February this year.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.9% (-0.7 ppt compared to January 2025); European carriers had a 6.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.4% (+0.5 ppt compared to January 2025); North American carriers saw a 3.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.3% (+0.6 ppt compared to January 2025); Middle Eastern carriers saw a 7.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.2% (-0.4 ppt compared to January 2025).
Latin American airlines saw a 11.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 8.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 86.5% (+2.0 ppt compared to January 2025); and African airlines saw an 11.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 10.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 77.4% (+1.1 ppt compared to January 2025).
“Average fares are expected to fall in real terms over the course of 2026, continuing a long-established trend of ever more affordable air travel. This is despite persistent cost pressures from rising infrastructure charges, onerous regulatory burdens, and the mounting cost of the energy transition. In the face of these cost and regulatory pressures, it is notable that 2025 saw the slowest rate of new airline start-ups since 1999. Governments who value competition should consider this a canary in the coal mine. To protect and enhance the consumer benefits of connectivity, these cost and regulatory issues must be addressed,” added Walsh.
Domestic RPK rose just 0.1% over January 2025, mostly affected by the shift of Lunar New Year. The load factor rose slightly by 0.4 ppt to a record January high of 81.2%, as capacity fell -0.4%. China, Australia, and the United States all posted traffic declines, but Brazil recorded 10.9% year-on-year rise.
